NGINX [engine x]

• Nginx is a web server that can also be used as a reverse proxy, load balancer, mail proxy and HTTP cache. Oops, it is a lot of information. Don't worry we will check one by one in the below section.

Reverse Proxy

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  Forward Proxy - A forward proxy server acts as an intermediary between a client and the internet. It sends requests on behalf of the client, hiding the client’s identity and sometimes controlling access to certain websites.

Imagine you want to buy a book without revealing your identity. You ask a friend to buy it for you. Your friend goes to the bookstore, buys the book, and brings it back to you. Here, your friend is like a forward proxy, hiding your identity from the bookstore.

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  Reverse Proxy - A reverse proxy server sits in front of web servers and forwards client requests to the appropriate server. It helps manage traffic, improve security, and balance the load on the servers.

Think of a popular restaurant with a host at the entrance. Guests tell the host their orders, and the host communicates with the kitchen. The host then brings the food back to the guests. In this case, the host acts as a reverse proxy, managing and directing requests to the kitchen and back to the guests.

• Nginx is a versatile tool that serves web pages, acts as a reverse proxy, balances traffic across servers, manages email routing, and caches content for faster delivery. It is fast, efficient and easy to set up making it great choice for managing web traffic.